Announcing the April 11 release of On View At The Five Spot Café: The Complete Masters, a special Tone Poet Vinyl Edition of guitarist Kenny Burrell’s 1959 hard bop summit with drummer Art Blakey. The expanded 3-LP, 2-CD & digital sets present the complete recorded performances for the first time in any format including 6 previously unissued tracks.
Burrell had already achieved rising star status with several stellar Blue Note albums to his name when he entered the storied NYC jazz club The Five Spot Café on August 25, 1959, for his first live recording date as a leader. The band Burrell assembled for the gig was stacked with top talent: Blakey on drums, Tina Brooks on tenor saxophone, Roland Hanna & Bobby Timmons on piano & Ben Tucker on bass. The mood was relaxed & soulful, but the music was red hot & the grooves were deep on that steamy summer evening of hard bop bliss.
Kenny Burrell is an influential American jazz guitarist, composer, and educator, widely recognized for his smooth, melodic playing and his mastery of a variety of jazz styles. Born on July 31, 1931, in Detroit, Michigan, Burrell grew up in a musically rich environment and was exposed to jazz at an early age. He began his formal study of music at the University of Detroit and later continued his education at the Manhattan School of Music.
Burrell’s career took off in the 1950s, where he became known for his unique blend of swing, bebop, blues, and Latin influences. He played with a number of jazz greats, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Jimmy Smith, and was a prominent figure in the jazz world. His 1956 album Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane is a landmark collaboration that showcases his ability to blend effortlessly with other musicians while maintaining his distinct sound.
As a recording artist, Burrell is known for a large body of work, with his guitar style being smooth yet expressive, often rich with soulful bluesy licks. His tone is warm and rich, and his improvisational ability is noted for its sophistication and subtlety. Burrell has released a number of albums as a bandleader, including Midnight Blue (1963), which is considered one of his signature albums.
In addition to his performance career, Burrell is also a respected educator. He has taught at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he is a professor in the music department, and has contributed to the development of jazz education through his lectures and workshops. His influence as a teacher is seen in his impact on generations of guitarists who follow his approach to jazz and improvisation.
Throughout his career, Burrell has received numerous accolades, including a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters award. His contributions to jazz guitar and to the music world at large are immeasurable, and his legacy continues to inspire musicians of all genres.
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